Bobette Ann Pfeifer
Bobette Ann Pfeifer, 75, of Sanibel Island, Fla., a 15 year resident and a 40 year vacationer, formerly of Murrysville, Penn., passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 in Sanibel. She was born Aug. 19, 1938 to Robert and Lucille Buchanan, now deceased.
Bobette attended the Congregational Church of Sanibel and the First Presbyterian Church in Murrysville, Penn.
Since 1983, she has been an award winning photographer. For her excellence in unique creativity and processing styles in both digital and film format and specializing in nature photography, she has been recognized and awarded at all levels of competition at local, state-wide, and international levels, even earning Photographic Society Association’s 4 Star Level in both monochrome and color print categories.
Her unique eye for creative composition, color combinations and abstraction gave all of her photography a fresh distinctive style she made the “ordinary, extraordinary.” She often served as judge for juried photography shows. While she enjoyed the challenge of photography contests and winning, her true passion in life was being out there in the field pushing her camera to the limit! One could often see her photographing birds and animals along the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge trail on Sanibel or at many other locations including the less exotic but much loved Disney Savannah view at Animal Kingdom Lodge. She was also a long time and active member of the Fort Myers Camera Club and kept learning new digital photography techniques in the “Digi-Clicks” camera study group.
Prior to moving to Sanibel, Bobette lived in Murrysville, Penn., for 35 years. She was accepted in the Pittsburgh Society of Artists for her photography and was also an active member of the Penn Art Association and East Suburban Art League (EASL). She participated in arts and crafts shows exhibiting and selling her creations in many different types of media ranging from bread dough, fused glass beads and stained glass. Much of this creativity was fostered by her college education at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Ill. where she earned a degree in Parks and Recreation with a minor in Art.
Bobette was also a long time member and officer of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) in Fort Myers and Murrysville, Penn. An avid reader of mysteries and photography, Bobette was member of many book clubs across multiple states. In Murrysville she was also a member of Symphony East, Women’s Club and of the Welcome Wagon Club delivering meals and creating crafts.
Bobette Pfeifer, while the accomplished artist and committed to the many social and professional organizations, will best be remembered for her love of family and people. A wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to all; always guiding, supporting and nurturing. She took humble pride in participating both as Girl’s and Boy’s Scout leaders for many years while her children were growing up. Despite her many personal pursuits and interests, her kids remember she always was ‘back home’ after school or present for the many after-school related events. She is fondly remembered by many for her warm and sincere smile, sunny good humor and pitching in to help in any way no matter where she was at. Besides her love of family, friends, and the arts, she also had a soft spot in her heart for many family dogs, gardening, and growing beautiful flowers.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Norman Ray Pfeifer of Sanibel Island, Fla.; two children, Dr. Cynthia Ann Pfeifer-Hill of Alva, Okla., and Craig Norman Pfeifer; daughter-in-law Jaiprabha “JP” of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, Joseanna C. and Joseph C. Pfeifer; five Ridgway great grandchildren; sister-in-law Jenny Buchanan; and her niece and nephew, Danielle and Rob Buchanan.
Bobette was preceded in death by her brother, Dr. Richard Buchanan, and her son-in-law, Dr. Loyd V. Hill.
Formal Services will be held at a later date to be announced.
Memorial contributions in memory of Bobette Ann Pfeifer are suggested to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, Texas, 75231, or to “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, Fla., 33957.
Friends are invited to send condolences via the on-line guest book which can be found at MullinsMemorial.com.
Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cape Coral, is entrusted with final care.